Last Call Half Marathon--12/6/14

I signed up for this race a day or two after barely missing my PR at Tyranena. I wasn't ready to leave the season without it. The course boasted "flat and fast" and the starting line was a couple miles from home, so there you have it.

It was high 20s and I was in my new tri shorts, well-worn but lucky long sleeved tech top, hat and gloves. It was chilly but I had a good feeling about this one. I hydrated the heck out of myself all morning to prevent the god-awful Cramp of Tyranena. I even scaled back on the morning coffee and pre-race caffeinated gel.

Mile 1: 8:30 pace. What the? I'm not that fast.

Miles 2-6: 8:30-8:45 pace. Something isn't right. I'm seriously not that fast. Did they measure wrong?

Miles 7-10: 8:45ish pace. Not only am I going to PR, I'm going to CRUSH the 2-hour mark. But whoa. Mile 11 is where I got into trouble at Tyranena. Is that a cramp coming on? Take it easy, girl. Don't push it here.

Miles 11-13: 9:00ish pace. Moderate soreness and such slowed me down, plus the aforementioned fear of hitting some proverbial wall.

Done. PR by over 8 minutes, sub 2 hours by over 5 minutes. I won't bother signing up for another half for awhile, this new PR ain't going nowhere.

Tyranena Beer Run (Half Marathon)--11/8/14

I love this race. The people are friendly, the course is varied and interesting, the post-race food and drink highly motivating, the weather is...weather. I've done Tyranena in bitter cold and bitter colder. I've shed and re-applied and shed layers again. You just never know.

This one was mid-high 30s and partly sunny, which is darn close to my optimal running weather. And the elusive PR was the only thing on my mind. Nutrition dialed in, save a bonus cup of coffee on the drive there. How much damage can it do?

Mile One: 8:45 pace. A little fast, but it'll be fine.

Miles 2-6: Comfortable 9:00-9:15 miles. I'll get this PR if it kills me.

Miles 7-11: Hanging around 9:15--not enough for the Golden sub-2 hours, but plenty of PR cushion.

Mile 11: Cramp. Not a run-through-it cramp. Not a Start-to-limp-a-little cramp. Not even a Stop-to-stretch-it-out-for-a-few-seconds cramp. This was a You're-not-running-anymore-for-awhile cramp. Stretching didn't help. Walking didn't help. The PR was slipping away.

An angel of a spectator offered me her water bottle when she saw my pain. I slammed it and it was just enough to hobble through the final two miles.

I missed the PR by a minute and a half. Bitch.

The spaghetti wasn't even as good as I remember.

On my car was a flyer for Last Call Half Marathon in Waukesha a month later. You better believe I signed up for it.

AG Nationals (Sprint)--8/10/14

The recurring lesson of the summer came to a head at this race--my feelings of competency in the sport are currently based on the company I keep. During the school year (off-season) I'm with my friends and colleagues at work, where I can claim best triathlete, second-best cyclist and top-3 runner status. I don't mind this status one bit.

My ego started its beating this season with the Aquathon series, where I repeatedly exited the water in the bottom third of the pack. It continued at the Masters swim classes where four lanes of swimmers do 100s on 1:50 or better. And it culminated at AG Nationals, where the hard-core and the gifted converge to remind me that I have plenty of work to do.

I kept expectations low. While many participants were aiming for a spot at the World Championships I would be satisfied to finish in the top half. I set up transition as always and wandered like a fish out of water waiting for my wave to warm up.

I had a few acquaintances racing as well but didn't feel close enough to them to "hang out" pre-race. There are many benefits to having a strong support system in the tri community and passing time together before a race is one of them. For whatever reason I've stayed on the fringes of tri communities. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Finally it came time to warm up. I had heard the Lake Michigan water temp was in the 60s and we all know my dislike for cold water. It turned out to be quite pleasant (thank you wetsuit).

The horn was off and I gave it what I had. At one point I felt a bit flooded but eventually settled into a groove. I checked my watch upon exit and it was still at zero so I'd have to wait to see how it went but it felt strong and somewhat fast.

Wetsuit removal was just okay. I think I want a new wetsuit. My old one doesn't fit well and has some tears in it. Or maybe all wetsuits are hard to get off. The real frustration was buckling the helmet. For some reason I couldn't line it up and I lost at least 30 seconds on it. Boo.

Mount was uneventful and I was off on the bike. It was now cloudy and breezy but I was already feeling fatigue. After all, it was the first time I biked after swimming all season. I kept up a race pace throughout the mostly flat course but my 18.4 MPH final average was disappointing.

T2 went well thank goodness, and the run began. Wow, do my legs feel heavy. And plodding. Cumbersome. Slow. I was doing 9-minute miles and not feeling like I had anything left. These were not the times I was putting out last year--further evidence of plateaued fitness.

Disappointment rose when I checked online results a few hours later. Swim time was acceptable, but the other times (not to mention the soreness the rest of the day) wasn't what I had hoped, and the top half of my division didn't happen.

But I have a plan. I'll consult with a coach to get a strength training regimen started in the off-season. I'll read up on Ironman training and nutrition. I'll scale back on bike-run workouts to give my body a break.

As for my sense of competency, I figure I have three choices:

-Compare myself only to the people in my life who don't do what I do

-Compare myself only to the people in my life who do what I do

-Compare myself only to myself

I'm working on Option #3.

Lakefront Marathon--10/6/13

My second attempt at this marathon, I felt extremely confident.  On the heels of a surprisingly successful race season my training was solid, my form lithe, my spirits high. 

I couldn't say the same for Lydia, shown here in true pre-breakfast mood.

My lobsters dropped me off about half an hour before the gun.  I figured that was plenty of time for a pre-race photo, a warm-up/stretch, and a trip to the port-a-potties.

It wasn't.  With three minutes to the start of the race I was still (last) in line at the potties, and hopes of expelling, ahem, everything were dashed.  A quick pee, then the gun went off.  I felt the need to nearly sprint to the start, strip off my outer layer, and dash off at a 10K pace even though my timing chip would prevent a late start penalty.

My start was rushed and a bit frenetic but I soon settled into a rhythm.  I forced my first walk break at 30 minutes and then forgot to walk again for another 20 minutes.  Feeling strong, I chose to extend the breaks to every 8-9 minutes instead of every seven as planned.  Perhaps that was the start of the demise.  The soreness kicked in around Mile 9, and the GI issues (relieved at Mile 11 with a three-and-a-half minute delay) meant for a more challenging race than expected.  Luckily I had my cute athletic supporters.

Even with soreness and GI it brightens everything to see your athletic supporters.

Here I am saying something unintelligible:

And blowing kisses:

It turns out that Erika contacted the friends we have in the area seeking more spectators.  I have awesome friends.

My girls remained chipper.  Frequent snacks helped.

At Mile 15 I veered off the path to give some kisses.  I was in so much pain I just needed to stop for some lovin'.

I finished in 4:26, about 16 minutes faster than my previous marathon time and four minutes faster than my goal pace.  I don't recall ever being in that much pain when I finally stopped running.

After a chocolate milk and a beer I felt more like myself and we posed...with smiles this time.

Tri-ing for Children's--7/28/13

I had done Tri-ing for Children's once before.  I signed up for the Olympic distance in 2010 and a few weeks later my two biggest fans arrived at my doorstep and training came to a screeching halt.  Darned if I would DNS though, so we showed up and I came in about as close to dead last as one can come.

While "only" the Sprint this time, I came to Ottawa State Park this year with one word in mind:  Redemption.  In a new age group and the best shape of my life, I wasn't planning hardware like I'd managed the past few races but I did expect FOP (Front of the Pack) and maybe even a 20 MPH bike or a run PR.  Plenty to shoot for.

My athletic supporters stayed home again.  My Brave Bear was getting her tonsils and adenoids removed the next morning and we valued her sleep more than her presence.  I arrived, checked in, set up and waited the hour or so for my wave, shivering violently with chattering teeth.  Was it really the end of July?!  Cloudy, 55 degrees and breezy made waiting for the start the most difficult part of this race.

And then we were off.  The water is warmer than the air and my drafting is exquisite.  I'm sighting like a maniac (lesson learned from Rock Roll n Run) and even passing people.  This wasn't expected--my time in the pool this summer has been embarrassing and I'm surprised to say the swim has become my weakest leg.  But the stars aligned that morning and I finished a reputable swim.

Quick transition--I'm getting pretty good at those things--and I'm off.  Damn, I can't feel my toes. Why won't they go into those shoes?  Eventually we worked things out and I settled in for the bittersweet ambivalence of a mostly-flat course with a headwind.  I did what I could but settled for a 19 MPH average in the end.

Ready to run, but can't feel my feet.  The first half-mile was like running with rubber brick-feet, a most bizarre sensation.  But thanks to the looping run course I'm now seeing few if any females my age ahead of me.  Could I place after all?  Suddenly a runner with "41" (her age) whizzed past--guess not.  I was passed again by a "43" so with dwindling chances to place I focused on my best race.  Here I am getting the crowd riled up for my finish:

No idea why my face looks like this, and I really have to do something about those chicken arms.

When results were posted I took a gander:

3

Third in my (new) age group after all, which made up for the no-PR run and 19 MPH bike.




Next up, Waterloo Fit City.  

Rock Roll n Run--7/6/13

First tri of the season, first race without my lobster (home with tired kids), first time-trial start, first river swim with a current...I was anxious to feel the rush (literally) so I set up in transition, walked down the beach to the starting pier and hopped into line.

It was another smaller race and the possibility of hardware was there, giving a push comparable to the flood-stage river.  What I wasn't counting on was my sighting technique, or lack thereof.  Coasting with a current isn't enough to keep you on track, and after a substantial veer to the right (and the struggle to get back where I belonged), I shamefully climbed out on the beach with a swim time a good two minutes longer than it needed to be.

A quick T1 and I was off.  On the map the bike course had a moderate climb for the first four miles or so, but it felt more like normal rollers.  It's a nice change of pace when hills are not as bad as you anticipate.  Not much to write home about this bike--pace was one of my highest, and I was only passed once.

One of my longstanding short-term goals stuck in my brain throughout this run:  "9 minute miles".  When I hit the quarter-mile cliff-of-a-hill about halfway through I wondered if it was still possible, but..."9 minute miles".  The results page posted after my finish gave me 8:27 miles, and I took it with a smile.  So why I look so uptight in this photo I'll never know:

In the end I was 3rd in my Age Group, missing 2nd by three seconds and first by 30 seconds.  Stupid swim.

Beautiful weather, great volunteers, fun ride in the river (just watch where you're going), scenic bike and fast run....I'll be back.

Delafield Duathlon--5/19/13

Coming fresh off a new Half-Marathon PR, I was ready to start the race season.  I'd spent the long winter months changing deeply set (and deeply bad) eating habits and working out religiously and smartly (read: in the morning before work, previously unthought of). I was excited and proud of the results--over 20 pounds slimmer and the best shape of my life.

I stumbled upon a race in its inaugural year--the Delafield Duathlon.  Practically in our backyard, early in the season and without an open water swim, it seemed like a nice cheap option.  With no idea what to expect, we arrived.

The girls were set.

This race, we soon discovered, was small.  Each of the six waves had about 20 racers.  The man said "go" (literally) and we were off.

A subtle reminder...

Most of the run was on a grassy golf course, a surface I don't enjoy.  I pushed myself nonetheless and the split was (for me) near-PR.  Then came the bike, the leg in which I hoped to gain some ground on the runners who passed me.  (My efforts to stay focused on my own self-improvement often give way to the competitive spirit.)

Nailed the shoeless mount...

The bike route was relatively flat and windless, perfect conditions to cruise.  And I did, with a near-21 MPH average.

Excellent dismount in the tiny transition area, and I was off.  Legs are cement-like now.  They're moving along, just very very heavily.  My pre-race plan to match the first 5K pace quickly gave way to "just get through it".

The girls waited patiently for the big finish.

I can safely say I gave this race my all.

Special thanks to the very-pregnant Brzeski's for the athletic support.

Shortly before this family photo I discovered on the Results listing that I had won my age group.

While waiting for the Awards ceremony my lobster let Nya try out the camera.  Not bad.

Waiting for awards can get boring, but we do it anyway because it doesn't happen very often.

Finally.

Wisconsin Triterium Triathlon--6/30/12

I signed up for this one a week or so in advance, drawn by the small size (only seven in my AG last year!  Hardware, maybe?), and only slightly daunted by the bike route's sell (On the Ironman Madison route!  That means hills.  Steep and frequent ones.).

Waiting in line to body mark and set up transition...scoping out the competition.  Looks like a lot more than seven in my AG.  Hardware, unlikely.

The announcement is made...water temp is 80 degrees.  That's like bath water, folks.  Ditched the wetsuit.

Hmm...I need to pee.  Can I find a spot in this lake or do I have to trek all the way up to the port-a-potty line?

I think we can all tell which option I chose.

Of course the girls want to be part of the action.  Crocs (the shoes, not the reptiles) are by law a horrible fashion statement, but they do serve one function:  facilitation of wading in lakes.

While mama's off swimming and biking, the girls found something much more interesting.

I'm back!  And to make up for a smooth-as-butter shoeless mount, I biffed the dismount.  I only got my foot out of one shoe before hitting the dismount line.  I unclipped the other shoe, whipped it off, and threw it to my athletic supporters.  I looked like a royal idiot.

Coming in for the finish, arms out like a chicken, ready for this one to be done.  The hills on the bike and run were overshadowed by the threat of extremely hot temperatures.  Luckily the clouds lingered enough to keep it in the 80s until ten minutes before my finish.

FINISH TIMES


1/3 mi. swim--9:26
T1--2:10
11 mi. bike--38:25
T2--1:04
5K run--29:06
TOTAL--1:20:09
6/17 in AG


With the bug returned and firmly planted, I decided this was not to be my last tri of the season.  Next up:  Waterloo Tri--pool swim!

Capital View Triathlon--6/10/12

I have several ways I mentally approach an upcoming race--usually it's "PR would be great", sometimes "Do better than last year", maybe even "Get through it" or "Don't fall down".  I allowed myself for this one to be sucked into a new and quite dangerous thought--"I have an outside chance of pulling off some AG hardware here."

It all started when I was shopping around for races this season.  Proximity to home and participant number prompted a closer look at Cap View.  I checked out the results from last year.  Hm.  Not a very big AG.  That bodes well for me.  I look closer.  Hey, I could pull off 2nd or 3rd place with my bike time.  My run time would fit around 4th place.  Swim?  Who knows.  But my transitions are okay.  And so it began.  I trained in earnest with the goal/miracle wish of getting in the Top Three.

We arrived that morning bright and early.  The girls wanted nothing more than to frolic.  Way too much energy for bright and early.

I took one look at Transition and started to adjust my goal.  With a T area this large, how on earth could I place in the Top 3?  There's a lot more people here than I thought.  *Sigh*

No matter.  The weather and my spirits were good as I prepped for what I imagined to be a fairly quick and perfectly lovely race.

The wetsuit doesn't fit as well as it did two years ago.

With my wave starting over an hour after transition closed, we had plenty of time for sunscreen all around.

Finally, time to get the party started.  The swim was a very shallow rectangle--dolphin dives all the way out and back.  I kept my standards low from not being in a pool (or a lake) in ten months.  Luckily it turned out to be a FOP (Front Of the Pack) swim finish.  More importantly I still know how to swim.

Onto the bike.  I had practiced to near perfection the shoeless mount and here was my chance to show it off.  My goodness, feet are much stickier when they're wet.  Slow start.

And wow...these hills are steeper than I thought.  I envisioned similar grades to the ones I practice on, maybe a bit steeper but also shorter.  "Yes" to the steeper, "Doesn't feel like it" to the shorter, and to top it all off a fair number of the downhills ended in a 90 degree turn on the road, thereby requiring brakes and losing the full effect of the downhill.  Frustrated.  The MPH average I was hoping for on the bike--the one I can pull off in training rides--didn't come.  Still FOP, barely.

Off to run.  The first half was compacted dirt trails with tiny but steep up- and downhills in (mostly) shade.  Tolerable.  Second half:  It's getting much warmer now, and the novelty of the trail has worn off.  All grass, glaring sun.  No. Way. I will pull off a run split to write home about.  Thankfully (but not in a heartless way) the others are suffering too.

In the end I'm in 6th place for the AG out of 20.  No hardware, but a good start to the season.  Next up:  WI Triterium.